If a person's hair catches fire, what should you do after extinguishing the flames?

When a person's hair catches fire, the immediate action is to extinguish the flames safely and quickly. Once the flames are out, it is essential to care for any burns that may have occurred. Cooling the burn with cold, but not ice-cold, water is important because it helps to reduce the temperature of the burn and alleviate pain.

Using cold water helps to lessen tissue damage by cooling the burn area, as well as providing relief to the affected person. However, ice-cold water is not advisable because it can constrict blood vessels and potentially cause further damage to the skin. The goal is to cool the burn effectively without causing additional injury.

In contrast, applying butter is an outdated remedy that can trap heat and bacteria against the burn, worsening the injury. Covering the burn with a dry cloth is not sufficient on its own, as immediate cooling is essential to lessen the damage. While a dry cloth might be beneficial for protecting the burn afterward, it is not the first step in burn treatment after extinguishing flames.